Early Childhood Education Degree in Lake Charles, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Early Childhood Education degree analysis for Lake Charles, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$36K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.8 yrs
in Lake Charles
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Early Childhood Education in Lake Charles, LA Overview
Lake Charles, Louisiana (pop. 84,872) has 6 colleges offering Early Childhood Education programs. The local cost of living index of 80 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $925/month. Early Childhood Education enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Child Development and Play-Based Learning. The adjusted starting salary in Lake Charles is approximately $40,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,274/yr
Private Tuition
$41,023/yr
Room & Board
$14,078/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,078/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
56%
Early Childhood Education Salary in Lake Charles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lake Charles's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Early Childhood Education salary: $50,000 starting, $45,000 mid-career, $52,000 senior level.Lake Charles adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Early Childhood Education ROI Calculator for Lake Charles
Estimate your return on investment for a Early Childhood Education degree using local Lake Charles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,274 | Private avg: $41,023
Lake Charles avg aid: $16,078/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,000
vs HS diploma in Lake Charles
ROI Payback Period
7.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lake Charles
$50,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($144,000) minus total education cost ($93,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Early Childhood Education in Lake Charles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lake Charles for Early Childhood Education
McNeese State University
public
$9,274/yr
$37,096 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sowela Technical Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Early Childhood Education in Lake Charles
Lake Charles offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Early Childhood Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lake Charles Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Early Childhood Education Job Titles
Early Childhood Education in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$41K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Education Majors in Lake Charles
Instructional Design & Technology
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$40K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$40K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education Degree in Lake Charles — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Early Childhood Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lake Charles.